The Antibacterial Drug Candidate SBC3 is a Potent Inhibitor of Bacterial Thioredoxin Reductase

Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem for public health and associated with increasing economic costs and mortality rates. Silver and silver-related compounds have been used for centuries due to their antimicrobial properties. In this work, we show that 1,3-dibenzyl-4,5-diphenyl-imidazol-2-ylidene silver(I) acetate/NHC*-Ag-OAc (SBC3) is a reversible, high affinity inhibitor of E. coli thioredoxin reductase (TrxR; K_i=10.8±1.2 nM). Minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) tests with different E. coli and P. aeruginosa strains demonstrated that SBC3 can efficiently inhibit bacterial cell growth, especially in combination with established antibiotics like gentamicin. Our results show that SBC3 is a promising antibiotic drug candidate targeting bacterial TrxR.     

剑江化肥厂销盐蒸发系统的改造

本文对硝盐蒸发系统的工艺改造作了系统阐述，并分析了改造后所取得的经济效益。     

A survey of nitrate and nitrite content of fruit and vegetables grown in Slovenia during 1996-2002

Monitoring of nitrate (NO₃^-) and nitrite (NO₂^-) content in agricultural products in Slovenia has been carried out since 1996. The results of monitoring over the period 1996-2002 are presented. During this time 924 samples of 14 different agricultural products (potato, lettuce, apples, carrot, silage maize, cabbage, grapes, peaches, string beans, cereals, pears, cucumbers, strawberries and tomato) were analysed. The samples were taken at the time of maturity directly from growing sites and they were analysed using segmented flow analysis. The average nitrate contents were the highest in lettuce (1074 mg kg^-1), cabbage (881 mg kg^-1), string beans (298 mg kg^-1) and carrot (264 mg kg^-1), and they were moderately high in potato (158 mg kg^-1), silage maize (122 mg kg^-1), strawberries (94 mg kg^-1), cucumbers (93 mg kg^-1) and cereals (49 mg kg^-1). Low nitrate contents (below 6 mg kg^-1) were found in fruit (grapes, peaches, apples and pears) and tomato. With the exception of cereals (8.9 mg kg^-1), apples (1.5 mg kg^-1), potato (1.2 mg kg^-1) and pears (1.0 mg kg^-1) the content of nitrites did not exceed 0.5 mg kg^-1. It may be concluded that the results of the monitoring were in most cases similar to the results of investigations obtained in other countries.     

Alaska Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) Mince and Surimi as Partial Meat Substitutes in Frankfurters: N-Nitrosodimethylamine Formation

Studies were conducted to determine the feasibility of using 3 forms of Alaska pollock (AP) as a partial substitute for meat in a nitrite-cured product. The effect of several pre- and post-processing storage conditions on N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) were studied in frankfurters substituted with 15 and 50% unwashed and washed mince and surimi. In franks made with unwashed mince, frozen stored prior to processing, NDMA increased during frozen storage; little change was observed in franks containing washed mince and surimi. Refrigerated storage of franks generally showed a decrease in NDMA with all 3 forms of fish. Overall, the use of washed mince and surimi at the 15% substitution level gave mean values less than 2 ppb NDMA, even after boiling. The results indicate that 50% unwashed AP mince should not be used as a partial substitute for meat in frankfurters.     

The relationship between denitrifying bacteria and methanogenic bacteria in a mixed culture system of acclimated sludges

The interaction between denitrification and methanogenesis, with methanol functioning as an electron donor, has been examined through usage of a mixed culture system of denitrifying sludge and methanogenic sludge in an anaerobic bioreactor. Competition for methanol between these two kinds of biocommunity could not be observed, whereas methanogenesis was suppressed as long as nitrate and nitrite were made available in the mixed system. The inhibition of methanogenesis in the methanogenic sludge caused by nitrogen oxides was studied. The redox potential (E_h) of the culture was monitored and/or controlled for the sake of characterizing the behavior of the biocommunities. An addition of nitrite elevated the E_h of the culture less than nitrate did. Nitrite addition, however, exerted a stronger inhibitory effect on methanogenesis as compared to nitrate at the same concentration. The influence of redox potential on the methanation of methanol was examined by using a methanogenic sludge in the E_h-stat batch culture. The hypothesis that the inhibitory effect being expressed by the nitrogen oxides is not simply attributed to an elevation of the redox potential of the culture is supported by the experimental results. The toxic effect of the nitrogen oxides themselves could also have possibly contributed significantly.     

Effect of different rates of N-fertilizers on nodulation, nodule activities and growth of two field grown cvs. of soybean

The effect of N fertilizers on nodulation, nitrogenase, nitrate reductase activities and growth of two cultivars of soybean, Clark and Crauford was evaluated in a field experiment. KNO₃ or NH₄Cl were applied 27 days after planting at 0,16, 32, 64 and 128 kg N/ha. Nodulation and growth of both cultivars significantly increased when N was applied at low levels whereas specific N₂-ase activity (SNA) slightly and insignificantly increased. Cv Crauford showed a greater positive response than cv. Clark. Higher rates of KNO₃ and NH₄Cl (128 kg N/ha) significantly depressed nodulation and SNA but slightly decreased the plant dry matter. Cv. Crauford was more tolerant to N fertilizers than cv. Clark. The decline in SNA was ascribed to increased nitrate reductase activity (NRA) and higher accumulation of nitrites in nodule cytosol. NRA and nitrate contents in nodules of cv. Clark were greater than that in cv. Crauford. Results showed that NH₄ ⁺ is the preferred N source with occasional increases in nodule number and weight. This study provides an evidence for the nodulation and growth variability of soybean cultivars fertilized with different levels of N. The results also suggest that diminishing NRA could contribute to increased N₂ fixation and the interaction between NO₃ ^– assimilation and N₂ fixation is strongly dependent on the plant cultivar.     

Ethylene and Nitric Oxide Involvement in the Regulation of Fe and P Deficiency Responses in Dicotyledonous Plants

Iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) are two essential elements for plant growth. Both elements are abundant in soils but with poor availability for plants, which favor their acquisition by developing morphological and physiological responses in their roots. Although the regulation of the genes related to these responses is not totally known, ethylene (ET) and nitric oxide (NO) have been involved in the activation of both Fe-related and P-related genes. The common involvement of ET and NO suggests that they must act in conjunction with other specific signals, more closely related to each deficiency. Among the specific signals involved in the regulation of Fe- or P-related genes have been proposed Fe-peptides (or Fe ion itself) and microRNAs, like miR399 (P), moving through the phloem. These Fe- or P-related phloem signals could interact with ET/NO and confer specificity to the responses to each deficiency, avoiding the induction of the specific responses when ET/NO increase due to other nutrient deficiencies or stresses. Besides the specificity conferred by these signals, ET itself could confer specificity to the responses to Fe- or P-deficiency by acting through different signaling pathways in each case. Given the above considerations, there are preliminary results suggesting that ET could regulate different nutrient responses by acting both in conjunction with other signals and through different signaling pathways. Because of the close relationship among these two elements, a better knowledge of the physiological and molecular basis of their interaction is necessary to improve their nutrition and to avoid the problems associated with their misuse. As examples of this interaction, it is known that Fe chlorosis can be induced, under certain circumstances, by a P over- fertilization. On the other hand, Fe oxides can have a role in the immobilization of P in soils. Qualitative and quantitative assessment of the dynamic of known Fe- and P-related genes expression, selected ad hoc and involved in each of these deficiencies, would allow us to get a profound knowledge of the processes that regulate the responses to both deficiencies. The better knowledge of the regulation by ET of the responses to these deficiencies is necessary to properly understand the interactions between Fe and P. This will allow the obtention of more efficient varieties in the absorption of P and Fe, and the use of more rational management techniques for P and Fe fertilization. This will contribute to minimize the environmental impacts caused by the use of P and Fe fertilizers (Fe chelates) in agriculture and to adjust the costs for farmers, due to the high prices and/or scarcity of Fe and P fertilizers. This review aims to summarize the latest advances in the knowledge about Fe and P deficiency responses, analyzing the similarities and differences among them and considering the interactions among their main regulators, including some hormones (ethylene) and signaling substances (NO and GSNO) as well as other P- and Fe-related signals.     

An Attractive Synthetic Approach to Methyl Formate from Methanol via Methyl Nitrite

Catalytic synthesis of methyl formate has been investigated by a novel route starting from methyl nitrite in vapor phase. The acidic sites of the catalysts play a crucial role for the catalytic activity and the selectivity of formation of methyl formate. The H-Y zeolite catalyst gave higher yield and selectivity of the target product. This study provides a new approach for the synthesis of methyl formate from methanol via methyl nitrite.     

CO与亚硝酸甲酯催化偶联合成草酸二甲酯的本征动力学研究

在微型管式反应器中,采用高效的Pd/Al2O3催化剂,在388～418 K的温度范围,1∶1～3∶1的CO与MN比,50～150 mL/min的原料气流速条件下进行了CO与亚硝酸甲酯催化偶联合成草酸二甲酯的本征动力学实验;通过对反应机理的推导,动力学模型的筛选及优化,得出CO偶联合成草酸二甲酯的本征动力学模型。结果表明:CO与亚硝酸甲酯催化偶联合成草酸二甲酯是以表面羰化反应为控制步骤。     

偏最小二乘-神经网络光度法同时测定水中的NO3-和NO2-

应用偏最小二乘-神经网络直接解析硝酸根和亚硝酸根的紫外光谱,不经分离紫外吸光光度法同时测定硝酸根和亚硝酸根。在BP算法上,引用改进的误差传递函数,并采用均匀试验设计法确定了最佳网络运行参数。用于水样中硝酸根和亚硝酸根的同时测定,回收率分别为99.0%,105.0%。